Herbal Textual Research on Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in Famous Classical Formulas / 中国实验方剂学杂志

By reviewing ancient materia medica， prescription and medical books， combined with modern literature， the paper made textual research on the name， origin， producing area， quality evaluation， harvesting and processing methods of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix， so as to provide a basis for the selection and use of these two herbs in the development of famous classical formulas. Through textual research， it can be found that Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix were mixed together in the early history of China， but the distinction was first made during the Southern and Northern dynasties， and since then there have been constant controversies， and it is not until contemporary times that they are distinguished clearly. In the past dynasties， Duhuo and Qianghuo were used as the rectification of names， some aliases and trade names were also seen. Angelica biserrata is the mainstream origin of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in the past dynasties， and there are many plants belonging to Angelica， Heracleum and Aralia， which are also used as this medicine. However， the origin of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix used in the past dynasties is mostly Notopterygium incisum or N. franchetii， which is relatively uniform. The producing areas of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix are mostly concentrated in the western and northwestern regions of China， among which Angelicae Pubescentis Radix is mainly produced in Hubei， Chongqing， Sichuan， Shaanxi and other places， and the border area between Hubei and Chongqing is the geo-authentic area. Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix is mainly produced in Sichuan， Gansu， Qinghai， Shaanxi and others with the western and northern Sichuan and southern Gansu as the geo-authentic areas. Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in the past dynasties were harvested in spring and autumn， especially in February and August of the lunar calendar. Angelicae Pubescentis Radix with strong main roots， few branches， firm texture and strong aroma is superior， and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix with strong rhizomes， tightly raised knots， purple-brown skin， tight cross-section， strong aroma and silkworm-like shape is superior. The processing methods of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix are mostly cut after cutting the reeds， and the raw product is used as medicine. Based on the above research results， it is recommended that the roots of A. biserrata should be used for Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and the roots of N. incisum should be used for Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in the development of famous classical formulas， and raw products should be used in the formulas that do not specify processing requirements.

ETCM v2.0: An update with comprehensive resource and rich annotations for traditional Chinese medicine

Existing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-related databases are still insufficient in data standardization, integrity and precision, and need to be updated urgently. Herein, an Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine version 2.0 (ETCM v2.0, http://www.tcmip.cn/ETCM2/front/#/) was constructed as the latest curated database hosting 48,442 TCM formulas recorded by ancient Chinese medical books, 9872 Chinese patent drugs, 2079 Chinese medicinal materials and 38,298 ingredients. To facilitate the mechanistic research and new drug discovery, we improved the target identification method based on a two-dimensional ligand similarity search module, which provides the confirmed and/or potential targets of each ingredient, as well as their binding activities. Importantly, five TCM formulas/Chinese patent drugs/herbs/ingredients with the highest Jaccard similarity scores to the submitted drugs are offered in ETCM v2.0, which may be of significance to identify prescriptions/herbs/ingredients with similar clinical efficacy, to summarize the rules of prescription use, and to find alternative drugs for endangered Chinese medicinal materials. Moreover, ETCM v2.0 provides an enhanced JavaScript-based network visualization tool for creating, modifying and exploring multi-scale biological networks. ETCM v2.0 may be a major data warehouse for the quality marker identification of TCMs, the TCM-derived drug discovery and repurposing, and the pharmacological mechanism investigation of TCMs against various human diseases.

The pathogenesis and treatment of refractory Meige syndrome based on the theory of collateral disease / 国际中医中药杂志

Meige syndrome is one of the rare Diseases of neurology. It is a part of the group of segmental cranial dystonia, which affects more than two cranial muscle groups. Especially, blepharospasm is associated with another cranial dystonia. Currently, the etiology and pathogenesis of this disorder are not well-understood. Based on the theory of collaterals and the relationship between collateral disease and five zang organs,we try to classify the disease into the category of collateral disease, and hold that the mechasnism of disease is not only linked to brain, but also the five zang organs. The disorder of qi and blood leads to the "deficiency of qi and blood", "phlegm-damp" and "stagnant blood" in collateral. These pathological changes cause the deficiency of both qi and blood in brain marrow and tendon.We think that "unblocking and regulating the collterals"is the general program. Adjusting the five zang organs to heel the brain is the key point of the treatment. What's more, we create Tongmai Heluo Decoction to regulate qi and blood of the collateral. This decoction is composed of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction with some herbal medicine for tonifying qi and activating blood. By adjusting the middle energizer, the qi and the qi movement of five zang organs are well regulated. We use this decoction effectively on refractory Meige syndrome.

A comprehensive review of integrative pharmacology-based investigation: A paradigm shift in traditional Chinese medicine

Over the past decade, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has widely embraced systems biology and its various data integration approaches to promote its modernization. Thus, integrative pharmacology-based traditional Chinese medicine (TCMIP) was proposed as a paradigm shift in TCM. This review focuses on the presentation of this novel concept and the main research contents, methodologies and applications of TCMIP. First, TCMIP is an interdisciplinary science that can establish qualitative and quantitative pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) correlations through the integration of knowledge from multiple disciplines and techniques and from different PK-PD processes

Poly-pharmacokinetic strategy-delineated metabolic fate of bioactive compounds in a traditional Chinese medicine formula, Yuanhu Zhitong tablets, using parallel reaction monitoring mode.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of eight constituents in Yuanhu Zhitong tablets, which may provide a method for the poly-pharmacokinetic study of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: A robust platform using Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ UltiMate™ 3000 rapid separation LC, integrated with Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ MS, was developed and validated to acquire, in a high-resolution full-scan mode, a global profile of all ionized components in rat plasma after oral administration of a suspension of Yuanhu Zhitong tablets. RESULTS: This robust UPLC-HRMS method was successfully applied for pharmacokinetic evaluation after oral administration of Yuanhu Zhitong tablets. The MS response showed a good linear relationship, with a coefficient of determination (r2) of >0.99. The levels of detection were in the range of 0.088-0.414 ng·ml-g for the different constituents. The recoveries ranged from 92.23% to 104.47%, and the matrix effect ranged from 85.24% to 101.02%. The intra- and inter-day accuracy was in the range of 0.00-12.54%, while the intra- and inter-day precision ranged from 0.44% to 7.63%. Short-term stability, long-term stability, freeze-thaw stability, and post-preparative stability ranged from -recision rangedThe time to reach peak plasma concentration (tmax) values for the analytes was less than 10 h, except that for tetrahydropalmatine, which was quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. The large area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values (≥105 ng·h·l-g) for the eight compounds indicated good absorption and utility in rat plasma. The mean residence time was more than 6 h, indicating slow elimination. CONCLUSION: UPLC-HRMS was shown to be a very promising and powerful tool for the kinetic screening and characterization of compounds in medicinal herbs and traditional Chinese medicine formulas. Pharmacokinetic profiling of multiple compounds enables the clarification of metabolic processes and fates of the selected medicinal herbs or traditional Chinese medicine formula. This allows us to better understand the actions and associated therapeutic mechanisms of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Identification of key active constituents of Buchang Naoxintong capsules with therapeutic effects against ischemic stroke by using an integrative pharmacology-based approach.

Integrative pharmacology has been used to identify the key active constituents (KACs) of Buchang Naoxintong capsules (BNCs), a traditional Chinese medical preparation; this approach involves the evaluation of the content profiles and drug-like properties of the BNC constituents and development of an ingredient-target network. In this study, we used a sensitive analytical method to simultaneously identify and quantify 16 constituents of BNCs. Metabolism of these constituents by gut microbiota and human oral bioavailability were predicted using an in silico approach, followed by construction of networks to analyze the interactions between BNC constituents, their molecular targets, and proteins known to be the molecular targets for Food and Drug Administration-approved colitis medication. Finally, an animal model of ischemic stroke was used to verify the therapeutic effects of the KACs of BNCs. Amygdalin and paeoniflorin were identified as the KACs because they were the 2 most abundant BNC constituents, having appropriate drug-like properties, and produced therapeutic effects against cerebral ischemia. Amygdalin produced an anti-cerebral ischemia effect, likely by interacting with the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) and serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade C (antithrombin), member 1 (SERPINC1). These results form the basis for conducting studies to identify KACs in traditional medicinal preparations; such studies might improve quality control and allow the in vivo evaluation of synergistic interactions between the complex mixtures of compounds.

Characterization and rapid identification of chemical constituents of NaoXinTong capsules by UHPLC-linear ion trap/Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

The BuChang NaoXinTong (BNC) capsule is a well-known, traditional, prescribed Chinese medication for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the chemical profile of BNC has not been established. In the present study, ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap) has been developed for rapid and high-throughput screening of the preliminary chemical profile of BNC in both positive and negative ion modes. Twenty-five compounds were identified as the standard available compounds by comparing the retention time and high-resolution accurate mass. For the standard unavailable compounds, the structures were presumed based on high-accuracy protonated precursors and multi-stage mass spectrometry (MS(n)) using the proposed strategy. In particular, flavones, isoflavones, and tanshinones had the same skeleton. Therefore, the standards were utilized to characterize the fragment pathways and diagnostic fragment ions that could be applied for structural elucidation of their derivatives. Meanwhile, all the constituent groups of the compounds were detected in the individual herbs comprising BNC. Finally, a total of 178 components were identified or tentatively characterized in BNC, including 21 flavones and 6 flavone glycosides, 18 phenanthraquinones, and 22 terpenoids. The identification and structure elucidation of these chemicals provide essential data for further phytochemical studies, quality control, and pharmacological studies of BNC.

Analysis on Composition Principles of Prescriptions Containing Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from National Standard for Chinese Patent Drugs / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To analyze the composition principles of Chinese patent drugs containing Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua) in National Standard for Chinese Patent Drugs (NSCPD) enacted by Ministry of Public Health of China by using Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (TCMISS), and provide reference for its clinical application and development. Methods Based on TCMISS (V2.0), with methods of association rules and improved mutual information method, we analyzed the composition patterns and rules of single drugs and drug combinations. Results Through analyzing on the 201 patent drugs, 21 core drug combinations and 19 diseases that Jinyinhua commonly used were mined, from which influenza, and sore and ulcer were chosen to further analysis, including core drugs and drug combination rules, syndrome etc, disclosing the composition principles of Jinyinhua used in different diseases. Conclusion Patent drugs containing Jinyinhua collected from NSCPD mainly could clear heat and remove toxicity, and the composition principles reflect the compitable characteristics of Jinyinhua in treating different diseases, which are in accordence with clinical application of multiple-efficacy drugs.

Analysis on Drug Using Regularity of Rehmanniae Radix in National Standard for Chinese Patent Drugs / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To analyze the composition principles of Chinese patent drugs containing Rehmanniae Radix;To provide reference for clinical application and new drug research and development.Methods Based on the software Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (V2.0), the authors built prescription database containing Rehmanniae Radix in National Standard for Chinese Patent Drugs (NSCPD). Then the authors adopted the statistical module by using data mining methods such as association rules and improved mutual information method, with a purpose to analyze the attending disease, combination rules and the core groups in prescriptions containing Rehmanniae Radix.Results In 357 prescriptions containing Rehmanniae Radix, 17 most commonly used drug combinations were mined. Meanwhile, two diseases, namely, insomnia and vertigo were chosen from the 22 diseases that Rehmanniae Radix was most frequently used to make deeper analysis, showing that Rehmanniae Radix can achieve different therapeutic effects through different compatibility.Conclusion Prescriptions containing Rehmanniae Radixin NSCPD mainly concentrate on clear heat and cool blood, and nourish Yin. The composition principles obtained from the research that Rehmanniae Radix used when curing different diseases can fully play the efficacy of RehmanniaeRadix and provide evidence for clinical scientific formulae.

Study on absorption ingredients of yuanhuzhitong pill by everted intestinal sac method / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an everted intestinal sac method for determining absorption ingredients of yuanhuzhitong pill and study absorption characteristics of major chemical constituents of yuanhuzhitong pill.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The everted intestinal sac model was adopted. Intestinal sac fluid samples at different time points after administration of three concentrations of Yuanhuzhitong pill were collected and determined by HPLC. The accumulative absorbed doses of active constituents were calculated, while the proportion between samples of yuanhuzhitong pill and absorption ingredients was compared.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eight ingredients of Yuanhuzhitong pill can be detected in intestinal sac, they are protopine, palmatine, coptisine, imperatorin, berberine, byakangelicin, alpha-allocryptopine and tetrahydropalmatine. The absorption rate constants (Ka) of eight constituents increased in jejunum and ileum with the increase in concentration of Yuanhuzhitong pill extracts (P < 0. 05), indicating a passive absorption.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As ingredients are selectively absorbed in intestinal sac, the everted intestinal sac method is selected to assess the intestinal absorption characteristics of ingredients of Yuanhuzhitong prescription.</p>

Study about target-network of anti-cerebral infarction neuropathy based on theory of neurovascular unit and network pharmacology / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Potention drug-targets on anti-neuropathy of stroke were summarized, and it will provide materials for developing innovation components traditional Chinese medicine on anti-cerebral infarction neuropathy.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>This article had done a series of researching work about neurovascular unit which includes three kinds of cells: neuron, gliacyte,brain microvascular endothelial cell, then signal mechanism of cell death or apoptosis of each section of stroke neuropathy was analysised by the historical documents.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>There are five important pathways: inflammatory factor-MMPs pathway- Caspases, Ca2+ -mitochondrial pathway-Caspases, Ca2+ -Phospholipase-PI-3K/AK pathway, Ca2+ -radical-MAPK pathway, Ca2+ -NO-protease pathway, among all the nodes, Caspases, Ca2+, NO were the most important ones.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Developing the multi-mechanism and multilevel of traditional chinese medicine under the guidance of the theories of network pharmacology and neurovascular unit will play an important role in studying the key links of signal-network of stroke neuropathy.</p>

Application of ADME process in vivo in combination with network pharmacology in study of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Application of network pharmacology in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will be benefit for clarifying active components and mechanism of action of TCM and increase the study level of new drug of Chinese medicine. ADME process can identify drug components from TCM and obtain the possible metabolites which can clarify active components in vivo. For the complexity of active constituents of TCM, it indicated that the ADME process will be the precondition for application of network pharmacology in TCM. This paper introduced the study ideas of the combination of ADME process in vivo and network pharmacology.

Advance of pharmacological studies on Valeriana jatamansi / 中国中药杂志

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Valeriana jatamansi has a long history of application in China. It is widely distributed and commonly adopted by many ethnic groups. In particular, its roots have a wide range of medicinal value. With the increasingly more attention on it from domestic and foreign researchers, there have been more and more studies on its pharmacological activity and mechanism. This essay summarizes domestic and foreign reports on its pharmacological activity and mechanism.

Studies and reports of questionnaire on Chinese cut crude drug's dosage / 中国中药杂志

We had applied methods of stratified sampling and simple random sampling and collected 1704 questionnaires in 21 various hospitals, 18 provinces, then analyzed them. The conclusion showed that 78.4 percent experts presumed that the dosage rang of some traditional Chinese medicine should be revised. The dosages in the pharmacopoeia are not coincided with the practical dosages, and demand to revise. This paper will offer the consummate data for formulating the new dosage standard.

Determination of 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan in Daemonorops draco by HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for the determination of 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan in Daemrnonorops draco by HPLC.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Dikma Diamonsil C15 column(4. 6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) was used. The mobile phase consisted of (60:40). The temperature of column was 30 degrees C. The flow rate was 1:0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was at 210 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The calibration curve was in good linearity with in the range from 0.01 to 0.10 microg (r = 0.9999). The average recovery was 100.1% (n=6).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method is simple, rapid, as well as precise and reliable, and can be used for the determination of 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan in D. draco.</p>

In vivo Inhibition of NAS Preparation on H9N2 Subtype AIV / 中国病毒学·英文版

NAS preparation, a kind of Chinese herbal medicine found by the Yunnan Eco-agricultural Research Institute, has potential antiviral activity. In this paper, the inhibiting effect of NAS preparation on H9N2 subtype Avian influenza virus (AIV) was investigated in vivo. Chickens infected with H9N2 virus were treated with NAS preparation for 4 days. The virus was then detected by hemoagglutination (HA) test and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that no H9N2 virus could be detected at the 7th day when the chickens were treated with 0.2g/kg/d or 0.1g/kg/d of NAS preparation. However the virus could be detected in other chickens without NAS preparation treatment. This result suggested that NAS preparation may be a potential drug candidate to control infection of H9N2 subtype AIV in chickens.

Discuss on effect of physical environmental factors on nature of Chinese materia medica / 中国中药杂志

Nature of Chinese materia medica is the nucleus in the theory of Chinese material medica, according to the recognition of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is the character of the drug related on curative effect. Nature and efficacy of a drug is through the medical material, then, physical environment, including the temperature, humidity, atmospheric water, wind, topography, soil, micro-organism, and so on, influence the growth and development of the medical meterial. In this paper, we researched the explanation on nature of Chinese materia medica in the medical books of past dynasties, combined with the modem research, analyzed the relationship between generative reception and physical environmental factors, and discussed the effect of physical environmental factors on nature of Chinese materia medica. We indicated that the formation of Chinese materia medical nature is that the drug receptive the change of physical environmental factors, and resulted by the synthetic action of the factors, such as climate, soil, biology, topography, etc.

Effect of Chuanxiong Fangfeng Baizhi prescription on isolated rabbit basilar artery / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of the main constituents and its combination from Chuanxiong Fangfeng Baizhi prescription on isolated rabbit basilar artery.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The isolated rabbit basilar artery rings were treated with 5 mmol x L(-1) KCl and 5-HT 2.4 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1), and by measuring the tension of basilar artery rings, the effect of the main constituents and its combination from Chunxiong Fangfeng Baizhi Prescription on vascular activity was observed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Under pre-contractions of KCl 45 mmol x L(-1), ligustilide, ferulic acid, imperatorin and two constituent's combination have the vasodilatation effect on rabbit basilar artery rings white prim-o-glucosylcimifugin and 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-o-methylvisamminol have no same action. The EC50 sequence is P2 < imperatorin < ligustilide < P1 (P < 0.05). And the same vasodilatation effect on rabbit isolated basilar artery rings evoked by 5-HT 2.4 x 10(-8) mol x L(-1) was found for two constituents' combination.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Except prim-o-glucosylcimifugin and 4'-O-beta-D-glucosyl-5-o-methylvisamminol, all samples have the vasodilatation effect on rabbit isolated basilar artery rings evoked by KCl and 5-HT, the vasodilatation effect of constituent's combination were better than any single constituent.</p>